Seven Cambodian Peacekeepers in Mali Recovered from COVID-19
AKP Phnom Penh, June 17, 2020 --

Seven Cambodian peacekeepers, on a mission under the UN umbrella in the Republic of Mali, have been cured from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), while two others are still in hospital, said recently Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defence quoted by local media.

Among the 10 Cambodian blue helmet troops in Mali tested positive for COVID-19, one has died, seven have been cured successfully, and two others will recover soon, he affirmed.

For the six Cambodian trainee soldiers infected with COVID-19 in Russia, he added, they have also recovered and they are all in good health.
AKP

October 27, 2020
73 Blue Helmets sent for UN mission in South Sudan


Seventy-three Cambodian Blue Helmets were dispatched to South Sudan on Sunday to join the UN peacekeeping mission in the east African country.

The move to commit more peacekeepers to UN missions abroad comes despite the global pandemic.

Initially, Prime Minister HE asked UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to postpone the replacement of Cambodian peacekeeping troops on UN missions abroad.

However, Mr HE said he had changed his mind on August 16 and that Cambodia would remain committed to the UN peacekeeping mission.

Deputy director-general of the National Peacekeeping Centre Major General Kosal Malinda said that the Kingdom has sent over 800 Blue Helmet forces abroad, including more than 90 women, on UN missions.

“Despite the fear surrounding COVID -19, our Blue Helmets still volunteer for missions abroad with the UN. It is not difficult to select forces to send,” she said.

Director-general of the National Centre for Peacekeeping Forces (NCPF) General Sem Sovanny said that the 73 Blue Helmets are replacing a group currently stationed in South Sudan, who are set to return today.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50777089/7 ... uth-sudan/

Thirty-one Blue Helmets train in explosive technology before leaving for UN mission
Published 17 mins ago
on January 25, 2021
By Kang Tola

Cambodia News, (Phnom Penh): On 25 January 2021, classes began to train 31 of Cambodia's Blue Helmet Forces in the use of robots to clear mine and unexploded ordnance before their future UN peacekeeping mission. The soldiers are preparing to be sent on missions in the Republic of Lebanon, Central Africa, and Mali very soon.

It should be noted that since 2006, Cambodia has sent a total of 7,123 troops, including 419 women, to participate in United Nations peace-keeping missions. Currently, Cambodia has about 1,000 troops serving in four countries, including the Republic of Sudan, South Africa and Central Africa, and Mali, making Cambodia the largest donor of peacekeeping forces in ASEAN.

Nearly 300 Cambodian Peacekeepers to Leave for Their Mission in Mali
AKP Phnom Penh, August 11, 2021 --

Almost 300 Cambodian blue beret troops, including 26 women, will leave for the UN peacekeeping mission in the Republic of Mali.

If nothing changes, they will depart in mid-September to replace their counterparts who are going to end their mission soon, underlined H.E. Gen. Sem Sovanny, Director General of the National Centre for Peacekeeping Forces, Mines and Explosive Remnants of War Clearance (NPMEC) and Vice President of National Coordinating Committee for Sending Troops for UN Peacekeeping Missions.

The nearly 300 peacekeepers belong to the Unexploded Ordnance Squadron Unit 288 and the Airport Maintenance Engineering Squadron Unit 927.
- AKP

Cambodian Blue Hat Army Departs for Republic of Mali
Oct 1, 2021

Phnom Penh: On the afternoon of October 1, 2021, two troops of Cambodian Blue Hats left for the UN MINUSMA Mission in the Republic of Mali in the presence of General Sem Sovanny, Vice Chairman of the National Committee and Director General of the National Peacekeeping Center, at Phnom Penh International Airport.

73 Cambodian ‘blue helmets’ depart for South Sudan
By Editor November 18, 2021

Seventy-three soldiers from the Royal Gendarmerie Company 739 departed on November 16 for a UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan. They are replacing Cambodian peacekeepers who returned home on the same day.

Kosal Malinda, spokeswoman for the National Centre for Peacekeeping Forces, Mines and Explosive Remnants of War Clearance (NPMEC-ERW), told The Post on November 17 that the role of the soldiers is to ensure public order, traffic control, guard UN delegations, and conduct safety patrols for the citizens of South Sudan,” she said.

According to Malina, the participation rate of Cambodian women peacekeepers on overseas missions is 46 per cent – 15 per cent over the UN requirements. The participation of women peacekeepers indicates progressive thinking in the context of a new lifestyle, cooperation, solidarity and courage to always fulfill their role anytime and anywhere.

As for the soldiers who recently returned, Malina said they were warmly welcomed by the NPMEC-ERW and some high-ranking officials from the Ministry of National Defence. They took rapid tests for the coronavirus at Phnom Penh International Airport, and none was found to be positive, he said.

“Because they had not received the third Covid-19 vaccine dose, medical staff vaccinated them before allowing them to return to their respective families,” she said.

She added that all of them must quarantine for seven days at home before having any close contact with family members or other people.

According to the NPMEC-ERW, Cambodia has sent a total of 7,899 soldiers, 528 of them women, on UN peacekeeping missions since 2006.

This year 730 Cambodian blue helmets have fulfilled peacekeeping missions in South Sudan. Among them,124 were women.

Source: https://www.phnompenhpost.com

Cambodia asks France to provide scholarships for officers to continue their studies in France
Appeared 6 minutes ago
On Friday, January 21, 2022
By vann sokunthea

General Sem Sovanny, Deputy Chairman of the National Committee and Director General of the National Peacekeeping Center, requested the French government to provide scholarships to the officers of the National Center for further study in France in the field of peacekeeping. The request of General Sem Sovanny was made at the closing ceremony of the French language training course on January 20, 2022.


General Sem Sovanny also requested that the French Government continue to provide short-term training on Level 2 and Level 3 of Demining and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training, UN Staff Observation and First Aid. Also, he said that the study of French is especially helpful to increase communication capacity before going to UN missions in French-speaking Africa, such as in the Central African Republic, Mali and South Sudan.

Contingent of 184 peacekeepers back in Cambodia
Post Staff | Publication date 04 February 2022 | 13:41 ICT
A contingent of 184 multi-skilled Cambodian peacekeepers landed at Phnom Penh International Airport on the night of February 3 following a one-year mission under a UN mandate.

The peacekeepers – 30 of them women (16.3 per cent) – were welcomed at the airport by National Centre for Peacekeeping Forces, Mines and Explosive Remnants of War Clearance (NPMEC) director-general Sem Sovanny.

This comes a day after another contingent of 184 Cambodian peacekeepers – 29 of them women (15.8 per cent) – departed for Lebanon to replace them.
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ ... k-cambodia

February 20, 2022
Cambodia sends more than 200 Blue Hats to Central African Republic

The Blue Hats preparing to leave the country. Fresh News
Cambodia sent a new batch of Blue Hats to carry out UN humanitarian missions in the Central African Republic.

The troop is made out of 219 personnel, including 28 women, from the 432nd Engineering Corp.

The farewell ceremony for the troop was presided over by the Director-General of Cambodia’s National Centre for Peacekeeping Forces, Gen. Sem Sovanny, as well as other Blue Hat Troop leaders. The ceremony took place at Phnom Penh International Airport.
- Khmer Times

Cambodia Observes International Day of UN Peacekeepers
AKP Phnom Penh, May 27, 2022 --

Cambodia on May 26 observed the International Day of UN Peacekeepers to commemorate the sacrifice of Cambodian forces and civilians who contributed to the world peace keeping mission.

Addressing the function held at Kampong Speu province, H.E. Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Chairman of the National Coordination Committee for UN Peacekeeping Operations, stressed the event was meant to honour those who have fulfilled or are carrying the peacekeeping service under the United Nations.

They have left their home country to contribute to maintaining and restoring peace in other countries, and some of them have even lost their lives, he added.

Cambodia has deployed 8,302 forces for the UN peacekeeping mission to different countries, and 10 of them have lost their lives.
- AKP
Article in Khmer by Sam Samorn
Article in English by Lim Nary